ALLENTOWN, Pa. — A little more than two years after a ceremonial ribbon-cutting opened a Center City location, DeSales University has quietly shuttered its educational hub at 932 Hamilton St.
Carolyn Steigleman, vice president of marketing and communications, confirmed the closure Tuesday.
"We worked within our lease arraignment and terminated the lease in the middle of September," Steigleman said.
"Given all of the realities facing higher education, we're paying very close attention to how we're meeting our student needs, and it was determined that brick and mortar wasn't the best use of those dollars."
When it launched in March 2023, the 1,500-square-foot space was pitched as a bridge between DeSales and the city — a place for commuters and students to complete classwork or attend virtual classes without traveling to the school's main Center Valley campus.
It featured a reception area, lounge and a conference room, along with tech-forward elements like video walls and meeting infrastructure.
University leadership at the time called it a “dream" of DeSales University to be immersed in the Allentown community, with the building also open to residents and businesses for professional development, training, career counseling, academic advising and more.
The site drew praise from local development leaders and government officials who saw it as bolstering Allentown’s downtown vitality. It was part of a block featuring the new Moxy boutique hotel and Archer Music Hall.
Steigleman said DeSales "remains extremely committed to downtown Allentown" and continues expansive outreach in the area.
"We value the experience in downtown Allentown and working with our business partners and community partners," she said.
'Hub' hosted ASD summer program
Last spring, the Allentown School Board approved the establishment of the Allentown Summer Artificial Intelligence Institute for 20 Allentown School District high school students.
The eight-week program was based at the DeSales University Hub, with students receiving what the district said was "incentivized training in data analytics and AI technologies."
Participants dedicated 36 hours per week to the program, receiving a stipend of up to $4,355, along with six credits from DeSales, daily transportation and meals.
Allentown school directors had approved the AI institute partnership with DeSales for a cost of $166,291 to the district.
Steigleman said the program continued this year and DeSales would continue hosting students at its main campus in Upper Saucon Township.
"Our education department does a ton of work in downtown Allentown, and we absolutely expect that to continue," she said.
